readytorunbook Chapter 554: The Japanese Bridgestone factory is great, it's mine now
Chapter 554: The Japanese Bridgestone factory is great, it's mine now
As the meeting drew to a close, Minister of Industry Zeng Wentao seemed to recall something and spoke with embarrassment, "Commander-in-Chief, there's another thorny issue. It's about... the Shiqiao Rubber Factory."
"Stone bridge?" Zhang Chi didn't react for a moment.
"It's... Bridgestone, the Japanese's largest rubber company," Zeng Wentao explained. "They have many branches and research institutes in Malaysia and Siam. When they were defeated in the later stages of the war, a considerable number of their technical engineers and researchers didn't have time to evacuate, and we rounded them up in prisoner-of-war camps."
He glanced at Zhang Chi's expression and asked tentatively, "Most of these people...are just technicians, innocent of any bloodshed. Do you think we should single them out and allow them to atone for their sins through technical services as 'technicians'? They do have unique expertise in synthetic rubber formulations, tire structural design, and especially in the radial tires you value."
Just as Springfield is a name for Springfield, Bridgestone is a name for Bridgestone.
"Bridgestone?!" Zhang Chi suddenly realized.
It turned out to be them. Wow, they are the future tire giants.
He paused for a moment, tapping his fingers on the table:
"Yes. But they must be strictly scrutinized to ensure they have committed no war crimes. They will be placed under separate and centralized management, forming a 'Technical Atonement Team' to participate in our technological research under strict supervision."
They were told that if they performed well, their sentences would be reduced, and they might even be allowed to live freely in Southeast Asia in the future. If they performed poorly, or dared to act rashly, they would be sent to work in the mines or on the railways, where they would be exhausted to death.
In addition, dig out all the technical drawings, formulas, and process flows in their heads. This is their atonement fee."
Reminded by the Bridgestone incident, Zhang Chi felt that it was time to make plans in advance for taking over the Japanese industry after the war.
Nanyang has already established a country, and when the time comes, it will definitely sign the Potash Declaration and participate in the division and occupation of the Japanese.
Once we reach the Japanese main island, the production lines and experts from optical precision instrument factories such as Nikon, Canon, and Olympus, as well as the shipbuilding experts from shipyards such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, must be packed up and taken away.
On the one hand, it can prevent the Japanese from recovering after the war and slow down their pace of re-industrialization. On the other hand, it can also help Nanyang upgrade from a former "raw material exporting base" to a "precision manufacturing center."
The meeting ended and everyone left one after another.
Zhang Chi leaned back in his chair, rubbed his brows, and took out a few brand new coins from his pocket - these were the first edition of Nanyang dollar coins just issued by the Central Bank of the United Nanyang States.
He had previously focused on reviewing the design of the banknotes. The front of the banknotes was printed with patterns symbolizing industrial gears, rubber trees, and rice ears, embodying the concept of "a country built on industry and agriculture", while the back featured beautiful landscapes from various parts of Southeast Asia.
During this process, he repeatedly avoided using his personal portrait, as he always felt a little weird about having his portrait printed on the money.
He casually picked up a shiny 5-dollar silver coin and flipped it over to the front...
puff!
Zhang Chi almost choked on his own saliva.
In the center of the obverse of the coin, there is a relief portrait with clear lines and a lively look - it is himself.
And it is a "standard leader image" with a slightly side profile and a firm gaze.
There is also a circle of small characters below: "United States of Southeast Asia 5 Yuan".
"Who the hell designed this?!" Zhang Chi was at a loss for words, shaking a coin at Secretary Liu, who was sorting documents next to him. "Didn't I tell you not to use portraits on banknotes? How did I miss this coin? What's this called? 'Zhang Datou'?"
Secretary Liu came over to take a look and couldn't help but burst out laughing. He quickly covered his mouth with his hands, his eyebrows curved:
"The Commander-in-Chief... this... is quite majestic. Perhaps the mint felt that the smaller the coin, the more eye-catching the portrait would be? And... the portrait is quite lifelike."
Zhang Chi looked at the "Zhang Datou" coin carefully again, shook his head helplessly, and threw the coin back on the table:
"Forget it, forget it. I've already printed it. Just think of it as... a welfare distribution for those indigenous tribes in the remote mountainous areas. Let them hold this coin and recognize my face."
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "So they don't just know about Dato's and Chiefs, and not know the country has a Supreme Leader. Does this count as... currency going to the countryside, popularizing its image?"
-----
Lin Zhenhua stood in front of the huge factory building that had just been completed less than a month ago and took a deep breath.
The air seemed to still be filled with the faint smell of freshly painted paint, and a... a faint mixed smell of chemical solvents and disinfectant that he was extremely familiar with, which was unique to large chemical and pharmaceutical facilities.
Not long ago, he received a master's degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in White Eagle, and had planned to intern at several giant pharmaceutical companies to gain experience before returning to China.
But a sincere and attractive offer letter from the then-established Ministry of Industry of the United South Seas made him change his mind.
The letter of appointment stated, "The Xingguang Pharmaceutical Factory, which is being established and controlled by Nanhua Group and is a national strategic project, sincerely invites Mr. Lin Zhenhua to serve as the Director (Technical Supervisor) of the First Penicillin Production Workshop."
"Workshop director?" Lin Zhenhua was a little surprised when he saw the title.
In Baiying, those who are in charge of technology are often engineers, and workshop management is another administrative system.
But the draft of the Enterprise Technical Cadre Management Measures (Trial) attached to the appointment letter explained his doubts.
According to the idea proposed by Zhang Chi, the founding father of Nanyang, Nanyang will implement a technology-led system in the future.
A technical supervisor responsibility system is being implemented at key industrial enterprises in Nanyang. Technical supervisors in workshops, sections, and key positions, such as workshop directors, section chiefs, and chief engineers, are held primarily accountable for production processes, process parameters, product quality, and equipment performance. They have the final say on process adjustments within technical specifications.
Deputy positions such as deputy director of administration are responsible for administrative affairs such as personnel management, logistics support, discipline enforcement, and external coordination.
These deputies must fully cooperate with the technical supervisor and must not interfere with technical decisions for administrative reasons.
"Technology is the leader..." Lin Zhenhua murmured this powerful new word, and an indescribable warmth surged in his heart.
At White Eagle, technical talents are often suppressed by huge capital and bloated management.
In the newly born Nanyang, technology was placed in such a core position. This subversive concept made him pack his bags without hesitation and set off on his journey home.
This is exactly Zhang Chi’s purpose. In recent years, there are many Chinese studying, learning and working in the Western world. How to attract them to come back?
Not only should they be provided with good treatment, but they should also be given the opportunity and power to show their talents.
Now, Lin Zhenhua is one of the Chinese employees in the brand new factory of Xingguang Pharmaceutical Factory who theoretically knows the most about the industrial production of penicillin - at least that's what he thought before he stepped into the core production area.